Serendipity and Psychic Phenomena at Founder's Day

by Alan Hummerstone

There seems to be some part that goes missing from most
clip-ons during their Rip van Winkle years: the Cyclemaster
carburettor cover, the Mini-Motor mudguard hoop, the Firefly
engagement mechanism, the Winged Wheel fuel tank. The list
is as long as the number of types. Some of these parts are
now being re-manufactured thanks to good chaps like Roger
Worton.

I was talking to Roger at the VMCC Founder's Day last summer.
Roger was manning his stall at the excellent auto-jumble.
He told me that the man opposite had sold, that morning, the
rarest of missing bits, a Cucciolo fuel tank. Roger knows
that my wife and I have spent years chasing up and down the
country searching for just such a treasure. He also told me
that he has had many enquiries from all over the world from
enthusiasts after a Cucci tank. There was a lot of
wailing and gnashing of teeth. Various tortures were
devised for stall holders who sold rare cyclemotor parts to
anyone other than Roger or myself. I consoled myself by
buying various 'might come in handy one day' bits on the jumble,
and then returned to the VMCC Cyclemotor Section stand to do my
duty: answering questions and chatting to friends. My son,
an enthusiastic question answerer came over to me, and introduced
a chap be had been chatting to. "Perhaps you could help
me?" the gentleman said, "I've bought this cyclemotor fuel tank
on spec for a friend, but he doesn't want it". I said
"Perhaps I can" trying to be as nonchalant as possible. I walked
over to the chap's car and there it was in the boot. "I
thought maybe a tenner if that's okay?" he said
tentatively. The fastest wallet draw I have ever managed
brought a smile to his face, and a grin to mine. It was the
Cucciolo tank, complete with the correct cap. I thanked the
man and walked over to my own car to secrete my prize away out of
sight.

I returned to the section's stand trying unsuccessfully to
contain my glee. I was met by Philippa Wheeler, who
immediately accused me of purchasing a Cucciolo tank without
obtaining the necessary permit from her. While I was trying
to explain to Philippa that it was all a mistake and I was the
victim of circumstances beyond my control, Roger Worton raced up
to the stand on his Sinclair electric rubber band. "What's
all this?" said an indignant Roger. I was into a long
stream of 'buts' when David Casper arrived saying "I know, I
know" in a tone of voice I thought only Prunella Scales could
manage. I know cyclemotorists are a bit odd, but telepathy
I did not expect. I spent the rest of the afternoon trying
very hard not to gloat over my good fortune.